Chapter 10 - Miles Runs
Miles escaped custody during a hospital visit for a claimed chest pain.
A guard had accepted money from Councilman Hale’s network.
Miles stole a vehicle and disappeared toward the coast.
Police believed he wanted to reach a private boat in Astoria.
Then the farmhouse alarm activated.
Miles had returned to the land instead.
I was at Helen’s office when the notification arrived.
A camera showed him entering the barn carrying two fuel cans.
He intended to burn the original trust, the ledger, and the farmhouse.
The documents had already been moved into evidence.
Miles did not know.
Reyes ordered me to stay away.
I followed in Helen’s car anyway.
By the time we reached the property, smoke rose from the barn.
Miles stood near the farmhouse porch.
He held my mother’s old rifle.
Police surrounded the field.
He shouted that the land belonged to him.
I remained behind a patrol vehicle.
Reyes saw me.
His expression said everything he could not say in front of officers.
“You should not be here.”
“He asked for me.”
Miles had called emergency dispatch and demanded I bring the trust amendment.
Reyes gave me a protective vest.
“You speak from here.”
I used the patrol car’s loudspeaker.
“The document is not at the farmhouse.”
“You always lie.”
“You burned my apartment because you believed paper controlled ownership.”
“The trust has been copied, filed, and entered into evidence.”
Miles stepped closer to the porch railing.
“You stole Grandma from us.”
“She left because you stole from her.”
“She always chose you.”
“No.”
“She chose the person who listened.”
His face twisted.
He fired toward the patrol car.
The bullet struck metal.
Police returned fire only after he aimed again.
Miles moved backward into the burning barn.
The roof began collapsing.
I saw him disappear through the smoke.
Then someone shouted from inside.
A child.
May you like
Miles had taken Mrs. Alvarez’s ten-year-old grandson from outside his school.
He had brought a hostage.
